11 September, 2012

These are our newest pedals. Many VO staffers like large pedals so we wanted to make a really high quality large-platform pedal that would be comfortable even when riding in thin soled shoes. I tested them in espadrilles and minimalist running shoes.

Of course this style of pedal is great for urban riding. But we see other uses too. More and more bike packers, long distance tourists, and adventure cyclists are riding with big BMX style pedals, and these make a more refined alternative.

The two-sided platform is a CNC cut aluminum extrusion. It's big, approximately 100mm wide and 100mm long. There are six replaceable traction pins on each side of the pedal to offer great grip even when wet. We include rounded pins with the pedals so as not to damage street shoes, but they are easily replaced with more aggressive sharp pins.

Most existing pedals with large platforms use either loose ball bearings or are designed for BMX or downhill riding and use durable, but stiff, bushings. We designed a chrome-molly spindle that uses three sealed bearings, two inboard and one outboard. This makes for a very smooth pedal; it feels like a real high-end road pedal. And the bearings are easy to replace. These won't be inexpensive pedals, but we think the durability and feel will make them worth the cost.

We call them "the big pedals." That's the official project name. But we realize that we should probably find something better. So we'll give a pair to whoever comes up with the best name. (Be sure to use your name in the comment so you get credit.) The pedals will be in production soon and we hope to have them here in a couple of months.

Update: We chose the name "Sabot." Please see the post above for details.

How about the Haussmann Pedals, after the man who is responsible for the grand boulevards of Paris, and who also has a namesake boulevard. Baron Haussmann transformed Paris from a medieval city to what it is today.

Consequently, you could consider any of the "grands" boulevards in the name (even though some are already used in VO parts): Boulevard Beaumarchais, Filles-du-Calvaire, Temple, Saint-Martin, Saint-Denis, Bonne-Nouvelle, Poissonnière, Montmartre, Italiens, Capucines and the Madeleine boulevards.

These are gorgeous. The only improvement? Accessory rubber pieces cut to match that could be attached using the spike screw holes. Rubber truly makes pedals usable with any footwear in any weather, and the market for them is primarily low-end heavier cruiser pedals. Even high-end bulletproof dutch bikes use inexpensive rubber pedals because that is all that is available.

This pedal reminds me of my grandpa's old blue car that we lovingly referred to as, you guessed it, "Old Blue". We never buckled up in the backseat because there weren't any seat belts back there. These pedals are like those bench seats of old. I propose the name be a tribute to the bench seat, which sadly will go extinct in a couple of months when the Chevy Impala goes out of production. The name then would be, VO Bucketless Pedals.

La Pédale Parfait.At last you guys are finally getting a decent set of pedals! I've been using a set of the Lambdas with my own pins added for years on a commuter bike and the system works great. Yours are better looking though.